useful some time! He may get under Dave Porter's wing, but I am not done with him yet—nor done with Porter either!"
It was not long before Dave and Plum met Shadow, and a little later the three saw Chip Macklin. All four went off in a bunch, and Dave with much tact told of what Gus proposed to do.
"It is very nice of you to keep this a secret," said Plum. "I shall always remember it, and if I can ever do anything for any of you I'll do it. You are all good friends, and Dave is the best fellow I ever met!"
They skated on for fully a mile, the fine snow pelting them in the face. But nobody minded this, for all felt happy: Plum to think that he was going to have another chance to redeem himself, and the others over the consciousness that they had done a fellow-being some good.
"Time to get home!" cried Shadow, looking at his watch. "What do you say to a race back?"
"How much of a start will you give me?" asked Chip. "I've got no chance otherwise against you big fellows."
"We'll give you fifteen seconds," answered Dave. "One, two, three—go!"
Soon the race was on in earnest. Chip Macklin was well in the lead and the others started in a bunch. Gradually Shadow went ahead of Dave
